Snow Days

How nice to have such an unexpected break at home with these kids. We sure didn't do much, but it's been amazing! I love this picture of the two of them. It shows what great friends they've been lately.

Maui

Maui. It's now nothing more than just a distant memory. Sad. How quickly routine and cold winter weather can snap us back into reality.

We arrived to our condo the first evening just in time for sunset.

Jack became a boogie boarding pro very quickly. I was too afraid to take his water wings off though...it is the ocean after all.

These sand toys were already in our condo when we got there, and they provided hours of entertainment.

Sand mer-man Jack. He wanted to be buried as a mer-man so bad...don't ask me why...

One of our pool days at the house my Dad, Beth, and Adam stayed at. Jack loves the pool. Jovie just likes to watch.

Jovie's best friend, Hula girl Sally.

Jovie's turn to be a mermaid.

Jovie turned 3 on the 3rd!

The princess in her throne. Rob created some cool things for the kids in the sand.

After the huge, steep, trek down to the blow hole, we thought we'd take a sign by the warning post saying we made it!

The next picture shows just exactly what happens. It's quite dangerous really...a gaping hole in the rock with violent waves pushing the water through like a "blowhole"...hence the name.

Woosh! The picture does NO justice. It's so powerful and breathtaking. The ground rumbles. And a rainbow is formed almost every time. I was happy to catch it on camera though because it lasts only a second.

Ken...thinking he could handle those waves out there. Yeah right Dad! They'd eat you up. These waves were massive.

Man-made or natural? We weren't sure, but it wasn't there 6 years ago, so I'm guessing man-made.

By this time my camera lens was covered with sea-spray, which is why this picture is so blurry, but from left to right, Ken, Adam, Almira, Beth, Jack, Rob, Jovie, Joelle

Our last night :( Everyone was pretty sad, despite the smiles.

What an amazing trip. One I will remember for a lifetime. We had such a nice time as a family on this trip. We did very little, which was exactly what I had in mind for us. Beach, pool, beach, pool, a scenic drive or two, and lots of yummy meals in and out. Pineapple pancakes at the most wonderful outdoor breakfast cafe overlooking whales and turtles swimming in the ocean...that's one of my favorite memories. The kids seemed to have so much fun. They were so good, and played so well together! They were troopers on the plane...even through horrible turbulence on the way home which kept us in our seats with our seat belts on the whole time. I know it will be some time before we can get back there again, but mark my words...it won't be too long.

Christmas Day

Rob's family came to our house this Christmas, which I loved because it meant the kids got to just play and enjoy their new toys at home. We had our traditional morning of presents from Rob and I to the kids and stockings from Santa. It was perfect. The kids loved their surprises and were so grateful for new things to play with and put together. We had a nice dinner. I fixed up some cornish game hens, apple-cranberry-sausage stuffing, and sauteed green beans with bacon...wish I could have some more of it right now ;)

Puzzling with Grammy Day and Aunt Sara!

Archeologist Jack...looking for dinosaur bones. If you want a toy that will provide hours of entertainment (and your child will sit that long) you've got to try this!

Christmas Eve

This year our Christmas break took on a totally new meaning. With Rob's last day at Semiahmoo, and my last day of school before break both being the 16th of December, we had lots of time to spend together during the holidays. It was so nice to have his help for the preparation of Christmas...wrapping, last minute shopping, preparing food, packing up for parties.

Christmas Eve is always spent with my side of the family. This year marked the 2nd Christmas we spent without my mom. She is greatly missed during our Christmas celebrations, but at the same time she is greatly missed every day. I constantly need to remind myself of where she is and what she got to celebrate this Christmas. What a glorious sight Christmas in Heaven must be!

I LOVE this picture! How sweet these two are together (most of the time) and this picture really shows it.

Later that night we set out cookies and milk for Santa...always a big to-do at our house.

Jovie couldn't take her eyes off the cookies for 5 seconds to take a picture!